5 Things I Learned about Weddings from Being a Bride
It's a unique and helpful perspective to put yourself in the shoes of your client. I literally did that this April when I was the bride!
You may think I had the advantage of knowing all the secret tips and tricks to planning a wedding, but the reality is, it’s all different when it’s your wedding. Your perspective, priorities and focus are different. However I do think having a wedding has made me a better photographer!
Here are 5 key things I learned from being on the “other” side of the camera.
Hire a videographer. (Who knew?)
Hiring a great photographer was a given. Rebekah Emily Photography was hands down the best decision I made. I was SO happy with her beautiful work, attitude and calming presence throughout the day. I already knew the value of good photographer and adjusted my budget accordingly!
What I didn’t realize, is how much I would LOVE and cherish my wedding video. Many had told me their biggest regret was not having a videographer, so I went with it even though I wasn’t sure I really needed it. Aren’t great photos enough? I didn’t want a lot of cameras “at me” all day, but I found Alex from Ace19 Media and he assured me he would fade into the background. Afterwards I remarked how I barely knew he was there, in the best possible way! But seeing ourselves and so many friends and family live and in action in the video warms my heart to the core and something we will cherish and be able to show generations to come. It was worth every penny and one of my favorite things to help relive the best day ever.
You need a second photographer. Period.
If you want to capture everything, there’s just no feasible way one person can do it at a full wedding. I’ve definitely shot many wedding solo and am able to capture it all, but if a lot of photos is a priority for you, you’ll always be left wanting more! I know I wouldn’t have half the photos without Rebekah’s second shooter. For me, it was so important to see photos of all our guests (since it was hard for me to see all of them!) so while Rebekah got some great shots of them at cocktail hour, her second shooter handled our family formals. We would have missed so many great shots of family and loved ones if one person had to try and catch everything. While we still would have gotten amazing photos, this was a helpful “extra” and worth the additional cost!
The “first look” does not ruin the aisle moment
Some (okay, mostly grooms) are hesitant to do a first look – a private moment between the bride and groom where they see each other for the first time before the ceremony. There is concern that seeing the bride ahead of time will ruin the moment of her walking down the aisle. Both moments felt so different and were both filled with so much love and emotion, and neither one took away from the other. I am SO glad I had both. Based on my husband’s tears at both moments (and he’s not a crier…), I think he would agree! If you need more convincing, you can read more here!
Keep locations to a minimum
To me, it was important to not be transporting people from one location to another, so I made sure to choose a venue where everything was in one place. Trying to get everyone from a ceremony to the reception, etc takes time, money, logistics and guaranteed confusion and stress. This is not something you want on your wedding day! I loved the ease for us and our guests to only be steps away from each location. It allowed more time to spend with everyone and it already goes by so fast!
Mingle more, dance less
I love dancing. If there’s good music and a great DJ, my default location is the dance floor. So of course I was out there at my reception. But it did take me away from seeing some of my guests. The hardest part is you just wish you had more time with your guests. In retrospect, I would have saved my dancing queen moments for another day and focused on talking to more people!
That’s it! And of course, just enjoy your day! It’s wonderful and magical and after all the planning and anticipation, the photos and videos are what lasts and keeps those memories alive. I would do it again if I could (!!) but in the meantime I’ll just watch the video and look through my photos…again…and again…and again!
What's in My Bag: Part 3: Weddings
Needless to say that with a wedding, there’s just a lot more of everything! Weddings are action packed without a lot of downtime. It takes a lot of preparation and organization to be ready for each moment and prepared to capture those moments you can never get back!
I am often switching up lenses for different parts of the day since they have different needs. But for the most part I keep 2 camera bodies (5D Mark III’s!) on my at all times.
I use this trusty contraption to keep them at my finger tips and prevent getting tangled up (plus, it does look pretty cool!)
Most of the time I have one camera with a 24-70mm lens on it for wide angle shots. On the other I have my 70-200mm zoom lens to get in close at a moment’s notice.
I may switch out to the 50 mm or 85 mm for bridal shots, and ring shots work best with the 100 mm macro to get in nice and close!
Spare batteries, extra memory cards, flash batteries and a detailed timeline/shot list are usually in pockets and on me at all times!
For the reception or any dark areas, I also have 2 flashes that I can use on or off camera. This guy is a great one to setup the reception room near the DJ to light up the dance floor!
And lastly, I pack my patience and deep breaths… all sold separately! ;)
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What's in My Bag: Part 4 Travel
If you've been following the "What's in my Bag" series and you're thinking....that's great and all, but I'm not ready to buy professional level camera equipment...I hear ya! This post is for you!
There’s no question that I LOVE to take photos when I travel. These photos are for me and feed the creative side. However the last thing you want to do on vacation is lug around heavy equipment! (or risk damaging the pro stuff!) But when I see a photo I need to take, it physically hurts to not be able to capture it! (ask anyone who has traveled with me!!)
So I have 3 solutions depending on how much I’m willing to carry:
1. The Canon 6D- this is very similar to the 5D Mark III, but it’s a bit lighter. It’s a step down and does not have the dual memory card slots, but it still does an amazing job. The kit lens (24-105mm) is not the best in low light, but allows enough versatility to get a wide range of shots without changing lenses. And it’s light weight to boot!
2. Mirrorless Camera- Fuji X-T2
This little guy is new this year- the mirrorless system is much smaller, but still allows you to interchange lenses. I have 2 lenses for it- a wide angle 14 mm and a 23 mm -they both work great and provide ample depth of field and work well in low light because they are prime. However I am finding I need a zoom lens to complete the package. That will add bulk (and a third lens to carry!) which may be defeating the point of going smaller.... So the jury is still out on this one, but it did get me all the way through Italy!
3. iPhone (gulp)
I know, I know, a photographer recommending to use your iPhone??? I can’t lie, the photos aren’t too bad if you have good lighting and are somewhat close to your subject. In a pinch, they can be great. There are some moments when I just don’t want to lug around anything (or aren’t permitted to) so, as they say, the best camera is the one you have on you! Just know it’s limitations and don’t try to do the impossible- but be creative with your angles and filters and you’ll be surprised with what you can get!
There are also occasions where I want to have a camera in places that involve water. Usually the does not mix well with electronics, so I keep on hand a very basic point and shoot camera that's super small but can survive being dunked completely under water. It's great for the pool, boats, or anything where you just don't want stress about getting your camera wet! It's may not get you any award winning photos, but it will capture the moment well (and does video too!)
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